The University of Latvia is pleased to announce that the European Commission has officially recognized the significant contribution of Dr. Ieva Birka and her team to the project "Urban Readiness for Emerging Risks in the Baltic Sea Region", implemented at the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences of the University of Latvia and funded under the Recovery and Resilience Facility project "Internal and External Consolidation of the University of Latvia".
On July 31, Dr. Birka received a letter from the Directorate‑General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) commending the comprehensive public survey carried out on crisis preparedness in cities across the Baltic Sea region and Germany.
The Commission highlighted the study's substantial contribution to the EU's Union Resilience Strategy, especially noting the public's insufficient knowledge of emergency procedures and the low level of individual preparedness. The research findings provide an essential foundation for the strategy's key priorities and support Commissioner Hadja Lahbib's 72‑hour self‑sufficiency initiative.
The European Commission encouraged expanding the study across the European Union and recommended that its results be published in the Union Civil Protection Knowledge Network, emphasising its importance for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers.
Additionally, Dr. Ieva Birka has been invited to participate in an expert roundtable discussion hosted by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre, Unit E6 "New Security Challenges", scheduled to take place in September this year.
This recognition reaffirms the University of Latvia's commitment to conducting impactful, policy‑oriented research with relevance for all of Europe and the benefit of society.
Additional information about the survey:
Dr. Ieva Birka – Email: ieva.birka@lu.lv
Dr. Didzis Kļaviņš – Email: didzis.klavins@lu.lv
